Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

slightly open

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

a former province of northwestern France on a peninsula between the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK, R. I.

Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK, R. I.

United States explorer who (with Meriwether Lewis) led an expedition from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River; Clark was responsible for making maps of the area (1770-1838)

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK, R. I.

anything that covers or conceals

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

-ing form of “flake” — form into flakes

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

an ornamental facade

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK, R. I.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

the act of giving

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

a quick look

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

coins made of gold

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

the handle of a sword or dagger

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK, R. I.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

possessive form of “james” — a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

used of a height or viewpoint

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

English organist at Westminster Abbey and composer of many theatrical pieces (1659-1695)

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK, R. I.

a protective covering or structure

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

term of address for a man

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

plural of “splash” — the sound like water splashing

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

not in physical motion

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.

a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading In the little music-house in his garden overlooking the Park of St. James’s, Sir Lionel Purcell—Knight—lay dead, with his cloak half thrown across his face and one hand still gripping the hilt of his sword.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

in the company of; together with

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY CHRISTOPHER CLARK, R. I.

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading AUTHOR OF “BERTRAND OF BRITTANY” “A WOMAN’S WAR” “THE SLANDERERS” ETC.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading The door of the music-room stood ajar, giving a glimpse of the autumn garden, the grass silvered with heavy dew, yellow leaves flaking it, like splashes of gold on a green shield.